Actually I'm now envisioning a challenge where I cycle two buckets simultaneously with the same 2 filters, but doing one with low ammonia dosing (the way you want to see it) and one the way I was taught (crazy style dosing, crazier than this forum teaches)

I would have to buy at least one more filter though and another heater, so we'll see :P

Overall I really want some research that will make fishless cycling less confusing for the newbies. Because I agree it does seem confusing to a lot of people.

I do hope to get some results that's make this less confusing but I really can't see you being the only person to have tried this

What I believe is that by dosing crazy high ammonia the first bacteria will out compete the second bacteria for surface area. The second bacterias reproduction rate is also much slower and this is one of the reasons why you get off the chart nitrites, because it is taking them longer to reproduce with limited space, especially in a bucket

Don't overwhelm the bacteria. Of course they will process it, it's nature, but strange readings and frustrated newbies is bound to be a secondary effect.

I do hope to get some results that's make this less confusing but I really can't see you being the only person to have tried this

Hmm. Maybe. But then why isn't anyone ever talking about it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caliban07

What I believe is that by dosing crazy high ammonia the first bacteria will out compete the second bacteria for surface area. The second bacterias reproduction rate is also much slower and this is one of the reasons why you get off the chart nitrites, because it is taking them longer to reproduce with limited space, especially in a bucket

I don't know how long fishless cycling has been around to be honest. I guess we should question where 4ppm ammonia came from in the first place. I guess it's because it's higher than what a typical stocking of fish would produce.

Hmm an interesting and reasonable theory

It is a theory, but I am not a scientist. Has anyone ever actually studied these bacteria properly hello scientists?

It is a theory, but I am not a scientist. Has anyone ever actually studied these bacteria properly hello scientists?

This is one of the more in-depth articles I have found about the specific bacteria used in the nitrifying processNitrifying Bacteria Facts
Ultimately that site is to hawk their bacterial additive, but the info is great